Environment
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Borehamwood family cleans up at Woodcock Hill
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| Pick-me-up: 10-year-old Miri Shiradski helps to clean up Woodcock Hill |
A family has voluntarily picked up dozens of drinks cans, bottles and rubbish scattered around Elstree's Woodcock Hill.
The Shiradski family live in Masefield Avenue, close to the open space, and regularly walk through the fields, off Barnet Lane, but have become concerned at what they say is an increasing amount of rubbish dumped in the area.
On Tuesday last week, 10-year-old triplets Dassa, Miri and Ilan, along with their mother Suzie, took on the task of cleaning up the waste because of fears for wildlife and the environment.
Mrs Shiradski said: "My daughter Dassa was upset about the amount of rubbish people leave behind, so we all went with plastic bags and picked up lots of bottles, cans and other rubbish.
"We then recycled over 45 cans and bottles and binned the rest.
"Woodcock Hill has been littered with lots of rubbish over the years. We have only looked at about one quarter of the open space and we have filled four and a half bags.
"We even found fireworks, tobacco and parts of a car including a number plate."
Woodcock Hill was granted village green status last month following a 12-year fight to stop any development on the land.
Dassa said: "I feel really upset about the litter as it is damaging the environment and it ruins the beauty of the land."
Miri added: "I am relieved now we have done our bit for the environment. I was shocked that people thought they could dump their litter on the open space and get away with it."
Mrs Shiradski added: "We now hope that people will stop dropping their drink cans and bottles and they should recycle them.
"The things that can't be recycled should be put in a bin instead. We also plan to go back and clear up the rest of the litter."
Councillor Pat Strack, chairman of WHOSE! (Woodcock Hill Open Space 4eva!), the group which has fought for more than a decade to have the area classed as a village green, said: "Mrs Shiradski grew up using Woodcock Hill and has enjoyed the area for more than 30 years.
"She gave a witness statement at the inquiry held last year to decide the hill's fate. Her family are great believers that it should be open for people to use and have put their efforts where their mouths are by clearing up like this.
"Well done and thank you to them."
Taylor Wimpey, the property company which owns the land and is reponsible for its upkeep, was not immediately available to comment.
12:35pm Wednesday 30th April 2008
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